Field Service to the Rescue

A passion to save horses creates opportunities for education.

Story and photos by Audrey Hambright.

Dressed in a yellow rain jacket and mud boots, not typical for late August, Karen Everhart led her first horse Godiva, also known as “Diva” into the barn. Ten horses at Rainbow Meadows Equine Rescue and Retirement, Inc., were scheduled to receive preventative care from the Veterinary Health Center, or VHC, equine field service team. For Diva, a dental exam was next.

Located south of Junction City, Kansas, the rescue is nothing short of a sanctuary surrounded by the iconic Flint Hills landscape. The facility can house up to 43 horses at one time and is nearly always at maximum occupancy.

Everhart officially started Rainbow Meadows in Chautauqua County, Kansas, in 2005. She relocated the rescue in March 2020 to be closer to her daughter and family. With only one full-time and two part-time employees, the rescue enjoys support from about 40 local volunteers. Everhart considers herself a volunteer.

A lifelong horse lover, Everhart first discovered her passion for animal welfare when she was approaching retirement and looking to purchase land in 1997. She learned about a pony with severely slipper-footed (overgrown) hooves that could barely move or get to a water source. The owner was reportedly out-of-state receiving health treatments and unable to care for the pony.

With permission, Everhart took the pony, later named “Mo,” to her homeplace, then in Sedgwick County, Kansas, where she nursed him back to health over the next six months. She was able to rehome Mo with a family near Concordia, Kansas, where he lived another 12 years with his new family. Inspired by this experience Everhart decided she would help one to two horses each year that were having difficulty and in need of rehabilitation and rehoming once she settled into her new ranch

In May 2005, Everhart began relocating to the new property along with 10 of her own horses. Word spread that she was looking to help a few more horses, and she quickly acquired 10 more. Out of the need to provide care and facilities for these horses, Rainbow Meadows was born.

Since its inception, Rainbow Meadows has helped over 1,000 horses directly or indirectly, ranging from instances around legal procedures, law enforcement or horses that have ended up in difficult circumstances. According to Everhart, they’ve made a big impact in Kansas and surrounding states. They’ve even adopted horses out as far away as Maryland and Southern California.

The rescue’s close proximity to the VHC has benefitted both the rescue and fourth-year veterinary students. Everhart says they have relied on K-State 100% since relocating, but the reasons she enjoys having the students at the rescue is twofold. First, to give the students an opportunity to learn.

“When I have 40 to 50-plus horses here at any given time, they are able to see different breeds, situations, physical conditions and needs than they might otherwise see on a field call,” she says.

Second, is to bring more awareness to animal welfare.

“I’m an educator by personality and passion,” she says.

Dr. Chris Blevins, clinical professor in equine field service, echoed Everhart’s sentiments in terms of the field experience fourth-year students can acquire in this environment.

“The number of oral exams, lameness evaluations, general health services and treatments students are able to perform are exponential in the clinical experience,” he says. “They also get to experience a very well-run equine rescue and can take these examples and thoughts out in practice and to other rescues they may work with when they graduate.”

Three fourth-year veterinary students Marissa Komp, Meagan O’Brien and Jack McCoole, who were on the field call to Rainbow Meadows rescue in August, all found the experience incredibly rewarding.

“This field call helped solidify my confidence in dental examinations and power floats, as well as vaccines and vaccine administration, general physical assessment and in-the-field lameness examinations,” Jack says. “I also got to meet and communicate with some great people who have a true passion for horses.”

Another unique aspect of having the rescue near the college is the ability to follow-up on specific patients that may have previously been at the VHC. Meagan was excited to see improvement on a recent case she had treated earlier in her rotation.

“My favorite part was following up with Que Sera Sera’s recheck and staple removal,” Meagan says. “During her stay at VHC, I was the student in charge of her case. It can be difficult to follow cases all the way through as a student, because often, by the time they are ready for a follow up appointment, we have already moved to a different rotation. It was a wonderful opportunity to see her case through from her presentation to the clinic to her staple removal and first recheck!”

Last, but not least, skills learned in the equine field rotation can help create more well-rounded veterinarians.

“Although I do not plan on working with horses in my early veterinary career, I find working with them very invaluable in learning about animal behavior and husbandry,” Marissa says. “I have become a more confident veterinary student through my equine rotation and learning more about horses than I ever thought I would, let alone enjoying every minute of it!”

“I think it is really important to be able to have these students come here and see a model for a good rescue,” Everhart says.

Rainbow Meadows Equine Rescue is a 501(c)3 organization, supported by donations and gift. They are verified by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, designated an equine guardian by the EQUUS Foundation and have a platinum rating by GuideStar.

Those who are interested in supporting the work of Rainbow Meadows or volunteering can visit the website at: https://www.rainbowmeadowsranch.com/.

For anyone interested in learning about opportunities to support the work by Dr. Blevins, the equine field service at the VHC or the fourth-year DVM students, contact the development office at 785-775-2137..